is a versatile platform for communities and developers. One of its standout features is the ability to monetize through Premium Apps and building out a Discord Store, providing an opportunity for selling digital goods and memberships. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into what Premium Apps are, how to set up your Discord Store, and how to leverage the latest features for maximum benefit.

What are Premium Apps?

Discord Apps, formerly known as Bots, are applications that make Discord more useful or fun. Apps can range from moderation apps, to giveaway bots, music bots or AI generators. Premium Apps are Apps where the developer sells premium subscriptions, to give users access to more features or higher limits. 

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What is a Discord Store?

A Discord store allows developers and entrepreneurs to sell digital items and memberships directly through Discord. Users can discover a store from an App’s profile, as well as from the Discord App Directory.

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‍What’s changed in Discord Store?‍

In June 2024, Discord announced several new features to its store, such as the ability to create one-time purchases, a renewed layout, and promotion of the store directly from the Discord App Directory.

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What type of items can you sell via a Discord Store?

There are various digital goods you can sell via a Discord Store. Common use cases include:

In-game items:If you’ve built a game, you can sell digital goods via your Discord App. Examples include special boosters, cards, weapons, or other in-game enhancements.

Other premium features: You can sell monthly or lifetime subscriptions (one-time purchases) to your app. Typically, most developers offer a free version of their app, and a premium version with more features. Examples of premium features will vary but can include premium support, AI features, automations, and higher usage limits.

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Types of subscriptions

There are two types of App subscriptions you can sell. 

- User Subscriptions: This is a subscription that users buy and they can make use of the premium features of your app across all the servers it’s installed in.

- Guild Subscriptions: This is a subscription that a Discord admin would buy for a particular Discord server to have access to all the premium features the app offers.

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Selling server access

If you’re looking to build a paid community where members pay a fee to access your server, the Discord Store is likely not the best option, as your Discord Store is tied to an App. You can find more about selling server access here. There are also popular third-party platforms specifically for selling access to communities, such as Whop. 

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How much does it cost to sell via a Discord Store?

Similar to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, Discord charges a commission for all purchases made through its store.

There are two tiers:

- Growth Tier: For new developers, Discord charges a 15% platform fee. This fee applies to your first $1M in sales. 

- Standard Tier: Once you surpass $1M in sales, you move into the established tier, which incurs a 30% platform fee.

It's important to note that, as of October 7, 2024, developers are required to sell Discord premium products at the same price within the Discord Store as anywhere else. Additionally, you must make your product available from within the Discord Store if you also offer it elsewhere.

The latest update has garnered a mixed response from the community. On one hand, users benefit from discovering new apps and subscriptions more easily through Discord's enhanced features. Developers stand to gain from increased visibility and potential sales. On the other hand, the substantial fees Discord imposes —particularly for those who move into the Established Tier—have raised concerns among developers. For some, these fees could significantly cut into their profit margins. This has sparked considerable debate, highlighting both the opportunities for growth and the financial pressures that come with operating in the ecosystem.

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How to start selling

To set up your Discord store, follow these steps:

1. Head to the Discord Developer Portal.
2. Navigate to Monetization > Manage SKUs: Here, you'll be able to create your SKUs (the items you want to sell) and input all necessary details such as price, description, and image. This interface will guide you through the process, ensuring your digital products are presented professionally.

For a comprehensive guide, Discord provides full documentation on setting up and managing your store.  

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Supporting your User Base

Most Discord Apps will also have their own support server, where users of the app can come to seek support. Especially if you’ve got paid users, it’s important to provide good support in order to retain your users. Once your App starts gaining significant traction and support requests start to multiply, you can consider using support platforms such as Mava to scale and automate your Discord ticketing support, as well as support in public Discord channels. 

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Conclusion

Discord Premium Apps offer a great opportunity for developers and entrepreneurs to market and monetize their Apps directly to a captive audience. Despite the mixed reactions to the October 7, 2024 update—balancing new discovery features and the challenges of imposed fees—the platform still provides a robust framework for revenue generation. By leveraging Premium Apps and the newly enhanced store features, you can unlock new revenue streams and enhance user engagement. Whether you're selling digital goods, premium app features, or integrating community access, the Discord Store provides the tools and visibility to make your efforts successful.